Jimmy Iovine, the song not the person, is a tale of the realities of big record labels and how they do business. If you are not familiar with the song, take a listen here. The irony is that Macklemore wrote the song before he blew up. Yes, he was being looked at by labels at the time due to his success that he created himself, but he wasn’t the mega artist as he is known today. He was an indie rapper making a name and marketed himself through viral videos and growing his fan base. He realized that doing a record deal would put him a place where he would get the short end of the stick. All artist get the short end of the stick with record deals, but that’s what you get when someone else pays all the cost up front. The major labels are out to make a profit and they’ll do everything in their power (or power you give them) to do it. So, Macklemore did exactly what he was already doing, going independent. Unheard of to most music listeners but not to 99% of artist out there today. See, what Macklemore has done is show us that it can be done without a major label and it can continue to be done without one!

Now, that doesn’t mean he doesn’t hire major labels to do some of his leg work. The major labels already have a system in place to market, distribute, and publish music. So he uses the label’s services without giving the major labels any control or ownership of his music. It’s a revolutionary way for artist to get their music out to the masses. We at Terraforming Records are exactly designed to be a label service. We are not looking for ownership of anything, we just want to help artist out. Not everyone can do the business side of music and most artist don’t know how to or want to deal with it. In today’s world we have the internet and that gives all artist the leverage to get out there and be heard and successful. Now, Macklemore is a rare situation and a strike of luck. He is very talented and he found a sound of his own with a huge audience that embraced it. 99% of artist out there will NEVER get to that level, just like Terraforming Records will never become a major record label. The odds are NOT in our favor, but that doesn’t mean you/we shouldn’t try. You’ll never win if you don’t play or at the very least try!

All the astronomical numbers aside, there are plenty of artist out there making a living with their music. Many of them not signed to a label, but still make & release records, market said records and tour. Up to a certain level, those artist have to reach out and get help doing all of the mentioned. When they do, they hire companies to assist and that is exactly what we aim to do. We provide label services for artist in marketing, distribution and publishing. That is where the music industry is going, giving more power to the artist and giving more options for the world to hear. It’s about changing the game and taking command of your own future. This is the “Wild West” of the music industry and we are a small “boomtown” label in Denton,TX, trying to claim our stake like Wyatt Earp in Tombstone (Greatest Western EVER!).

So if you are the 99% and need a helping hand, drop us a line! We would love to talk with you. If you’re one of the 1%, what are you doing reading my blog?

Whatever you do, don’t give up on your dreams, but remember you WILL fail more than succeed; but that shouldn’t stop you though.

Be INDEPENDENT!

“Every one deserves the right to be heard.” Now, this might come back and bite me in the ass but it has to be said. That is a strong thing to say when you have a small, itty bitty, teeny-weeny indie label. When you are as small as us, you are always looking to be taken serious and work at getting a chance. Nothing different from an artist looking to be heard from people and labels. We get our share of artist that email us links and MP3’s of their work and art. All of them with hopes that someone will listen and help them achieve their goals. That is technically where we come in, but it’s not that easy. There are things that we have to look for, a criteria you must meet. That doesn’t mean that if you don’t meet the criteria your art is shit, it just means that it’s not what we are looking for. Messages like that should not discourage you from trying to be heard or creating the type of art/music you want to do. That’s where, “Every one deserves the right to be heard,” comes in.

I guess the tenacious attitude comes from me always failing and thinking of a way to get ahead. It might also come from the belief that certain music genres “suck”. I TOTALLY disagree with that statement! Just cause you don’t like it does not mean that it sucks. What it means is that it is not for you. With that said, Everyone deserves to be heard, even if you don’t fit the social norm. It’s art and it deserves to be heard by every one. What I guess I’m trying to say is don’t stop doing your music because it’s not the “mainstream”. Last I checked, art is supposed to express and inspire, not just become mundane. Jose Levario

If you want us to hear some of your stuff, email it to info@terraformingrecords.com. We will listen and let you know if we’d like to hear more. Also, if you just want a critique of your work, I would love to help you out and give you pointers. Just be able to receive constructive criticism. All songs sent will be for A&R purposes and will not be used in any way shape or form outside of that department.

I have been working on what to write for this blog for about three days now. I didn’t really know what to exactly start with until about 5 minutes ago. First, let me introduce myself! My name is Jose Levario. I started this label to get my band, The Primary, to the next level of our musical career. I found out that I have a knack for marketing, managing, and an uncanny understanding of how to get around the conventional way of delivering music to the masses. Let me start off by saying that I love music, but not the way most people love music. I love the creative process, writing, the constant evolution of a musical idea into this creation of melodic sounds, the ideas that come into getting the finished product to the masses. That’s what I love about music! When I was younger, it was the message that brought me in. Then when I became a musician, it was the science and formulas used to create music. Now, it’s all of the above and getting it out for anyone that wants to listen. I know, it sounds cheesy, but that’s how I look at it. Now, with the label, Terraforming Records came to be the idea that a record label can deliver music, help an artist grow, and eventually make some money. That is what makes the world go round, or how Wu Tang says, ‘ Cash Rules Everything Around Me, C.R.E.A.M!’ Now that doesn’t mean that we are out to make millions, (it would be nice though, not lying there) but we have a passion and it would be nice for that passion to pay the bills. Eventually, we are no different then any musical artist trying to make a living doing what they love. That sounds weird thinking of a record label like an artist, since they are “devils in sheep’s clothing.” We are nothing like those labels because 1. We don’t have millions to spend or make. 2. We are not in this to make millions or screw anyone. We are musicians ourselves and we know how hard it is for talented people to get out there and be heard. So that’s me in a small paragraph, or the label side of me. I just wanted to formally introduce myself to you all. I will be doing some small articles and podcast in the future to help artist out or just give them ideas. It’s called Two Cents, I originally called it ‘The Failed Musician’s Two Cents’, but that was way to long! It’s just short articles, nothing fancy, musically related on how to get heard, market, and managing. I hope to make this a regular thing and I hope to hear from you all! Thanks for reading and I’ll see you all soon! Jose Levario

We introduced our new logo on our Facebook account last month and forgot to put it here! Go figure. Well for all of you that come here and not the dreaded Facebook, here you go! Let us know what you think! Hate it? Love it? Could care less? We want to know. Either way thanks for even reading this far and caring enough. TFR

Part 3 of the series were I give you advice on improving your band. I haven’t really given it a name ,but it is part of a series. I discuss marketing your music and why you should have a strong internet presence to get ahead.

On this episode I discuss part two of my Successful Artist series. I explain the difference between music as art and a product. How you if you want to be successful, you will have to see the difference between the two and know how to join them together.